Garden Pool

Stage 6: Sustainable Scale

CSF’s have evolved to an innovative system that can be replicated by any community and are ready to be implemented on a global scale. With the ability to adapt to any climate, location or environment, the CSF can generate a whole new industry in agriculture. 10 years of successful implementation has demonstrated the capacity of redefining a new sustainable economy while fostering future innovations.

Focus Areas:

Climate Change and Resilience, Agriculture, Resilience and 13 MoreSEE ALL

Problem

Communities around the world are devastated by the impacts of climate change and extreme weather. Regions that are most vulnerable to the effects (rural areas) are faced with dwindling resources, flooding, soil erosion, saltwater intrusion, limited access to nutritious food and more. CSF’s offer a solution to these complex challenges while also addressing the agricultural knowledge gap across generations and within rural communities by tackling the threat of food deserts and malnutrition.

Innovation Description

The Climate Smart Farm is a multi-solution, ecosystem-based, food-energy-water system with the ability to maximize community resilience and resource efficiency on a global scale. As a closed-loop system, the CSF supports an ecosystem that is in balance with no need for external inputs. The recycling of nutrient water in a soilless greenhouse with a vertical layout allows for automatic irrigation and no weeding. This ecosystem recycles harvested rainwater in ponds with fish and a blend of algae and pond plants. Nutrient enriched water is cycled through the areas that the crops are grown and returned back to the pond. Poultry raising can be symbiotically integrated into the system, as well. Each CSF can be built using recycled local materials, and training is provided in order for local citizens to be able to maintain and replicate the system. CSFs are scalable to the investment level of the farm, allowing for them to choose their level of resilience. Garden Pool would like to lead the global shift from traditional agriculture practices to sustainable development, and would like to see CSFs become common practice, not just an exception. Implementing a multi-solution approach through sustainable manufacturing practices will not only reduce freshwater usage in agriculture by 98%, but will encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. By changing the global food system with disruptive technology, CSFs will enable every community to feed itself with controlled-environment agriculture.

Competitive Advantage

CSFs use fewer resources and are built inclusively, bridging the agricultural knowledge gap in rural communities. When compared to conventional agricultural methods, CSFs utilize 98% less water and have an agricultural output of 10-18 times more. High water and energy efficiency, paired with advanced techniques and modular design, generates a resilient system that drastically lessens the effects of climate change and increases profit. A reusable grow medium and closed-loop ecosystem eliminates the need for external fertilizers and the worry of soil degradation. CSF systems are designed with a vertical layout which not only makes food production possible in challenging environments, but also allows for easy disassembly in the event of extreme weather. This protects the system and the vitality of crops produced. CSFs are easily replicable and can scale to any environment or climate using 3D printed materials. 3D printing technology utilizes local plastic waste which eliminates the need for new materials and reduces plastic pollution. Along with the implementation of CSFs, GP offers locals training on how to build using 3D printing which will help farmers sustainably maintain their systems while also mitigating the amount of local plastic waste. These farms provide a stable source of nutritious foods to rural communities that may not have been accessible to them before. CSF’s offer a unique solution that decentralizes food, water, energy and manufacturing in a sustainable way.

Planned Goals and Milestones

Garden Pool plans on the development and expansion of regional hubs by working with universities and local volunteers from previous agricultural sectors. Implementation will be focused in the Caribbean for the next two years with movement to Central and South America in the years following. Ultimately, expansion to the Eastern Hemisphere is one of Garden Pool’s major goals. Over the next five years, GP plans to establish 12 offices throughout the Western Hemisphere. Developing offices located in places like Brazil and Mexico will allow for easier execution of Garden Pool technology within those areas and surrounding regions. Regional coordinators and supportive staff for each office will be established to train and pass on knowledge. Raising awareness of Garden Pool’s mission and work through partnerships with universities, institutions, and interested philanthropists is an existing goal. A milestone that Garden Pool would like to achieve is organizing an MOU for knowledge transfer to institutes in the Eastern Hemisphere. Ultimately, GP would like entire countries to have access to CSF’s in order to ensure long-lasting knowledge, skills, and resources that can be passed down through generations with countless lives impacted throughout the future.